The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-11-05
wAsHINoroN's STREETS.
Tho National Capitals wonderful system
Of Aaphalk uIRhMaya.

of Asphalt Highways.
The report of the Engineer Commits
sioner Of the District just given to the
public, gives some interesting facts
about the streets of Washington. These
streets are the most noticeable feature
Of all the noticeable sights in Washing
ton; this is especially so to the visitors.
Those who live here become accustomed
to them, of course; yet even the old
time residents of the city recognize
these pavements rs q luxury.
The report of the commissioner shows
that there are now seventy miles OF
these smooth streets in Washington.
About one-half are asphalt and the
other coal tar, dstillate and asphalt.
Think of it, ye who hobblc over rough
pavements of cobble-stones seventy
miles of streets, as smooth as your
parlor floor and pretty nearly as clean.
They are swept frequently and are
practically as clean Us floor Any
night you may see great sweeping ma
chimes going through the streets, drawn
by four horses sweeping the dust and
accumulations to the edges of the street.
These sweeping machines are wagons
furnished with gearing, and in the
center between the wheels a revolving
broom whose stiff brushes sweep every
thing before them and leave the dirt in
line just beside the stone curbing
where the gutter would be if there. was
p,tt c,,pl fh;p sc 1ynAxx,,
on the smooth streets of Washington.
This line of dust and dirt is gathered
up quickly by parties of cartmen with
shovels and brushes who follow the
sweeping machines. They shovel it
into the carts and 1t is hauled of, and
when you rise in the morning you find
the streets swept and garnished.
The process of making these pave
ments is always an interesting one.
Wherever the working is being carried
on you see interested observers. First
the dirt is dug out and carried away to
the depth of a foot or more, thdh
foundation of broken stone, cement
and sand is laid perhaps six or eight
inches in thickness; this is allowed to
stand until it thoroughly hardens and
is practically solid rock extending
from curb to curb, the surface slightly
rdged Mt the center. After it thor
oughly hardcns mixture of asphalt,
ground limestone and sand is brought
from the works in carts, piping hot,
and dumped upon this concrete founda-
ton. 1t is black looking mess, look
ing something like black sand, pretty
wet and steaming hot, it is quickly
spread upon the concrete founda-
ton by experienced men to depth of
perhaps two inches; then a heavy roller
is rolled over it by hand, and more is
put down and spread and rolled. Aft
err a strip. say half the width Of the
street and half square in length, the
steam roller, weighing tons. is brought
into requisition. This runs by steam,
looking something like steam engine
of u quarter of century ago. except
that. instead of wheels, it is solid roll
ers, heavily polished. 1t is passed back
and forth over the still warm and east
ly compressed mixture of asphalt. sand
and limestone and makes it smooth
and hard Us a floor. After this hard
ems another coat is put on a little softer
so that it may provide cushion for
the third or finishing coat, which is
placed above it. and completes the
street. This year the commissioners
have been using good deal of coal tar
instead of asphalt and are of the opin-
ion that it is giving with the present
developments in its methods of use
very good satisfaction. The cost of the
pavement runs from $3.50 to $3.50 per
square yard. They are easily repaired
at very small cost and are much
more durable than they have credit for
being. Washington Letter.